There's a part of every living thing that wants to become itself: the tadpole into the frog, the chrysalis into the butterfly, a damaged human being into a whole one.That is spirituality.
Ellen BassRead
So often survivors have had their experiences denied, trivialized, or distorted. Writing is an important avenue for healing because it gives you the opportunity to define your own reality. You can say: This did happen to me. It was that bad. It was the fault & responsibility of the adult. I was—and am—innocent.” The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass & Laura Davis
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing helps survivors articulate their experiences and reclaim their truth.
This quote emphasizes the power of writing as a means of healing for survivors. It highlights how expressing one's experiences can validate their reality, combat denial or distortion, and empower individuals to acknowledge their suffering and reclaim their innocence.
Themes
WritingHealingSurvivorTruthReality
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop for trauma survivors, this quote can inspire participants to share their stories.
More from Ellen Bass
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I am above eighty years old; it is about time for me to be going. I have been forty years a slave and forty years free and would be here forty years more to have equal rights for all.
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Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.
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We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.
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